Published 6:00 pm, Sunday, January 25, 2015

If you have ever had sudden temporary hearing loss, you know it can be quite a scary experience. There are a number of reasons why it is possible to lose the ability to hear, so learning the reason for hearing loss is the key to restoring it. Fortunately, many of the reasons for hearing loss are due to situations that are easily remedied.

Exposure to loud noise.For employees in a noisy workplace, ear protection should be of utmost importance. Even short amounts of time spent in these types of environments can lead to temporary hearing loss. Chronic exposure to noise loud enough to cause ringing in the ears can eventually lead to permanent hearing loss.

This is also true for anyone who turns headphone volume way up or who frequently attends loud concerts. Ringing in the ears, known as tinnitus, generally results from high noise exposure. The solution is to turn down the headphone volume and wear ear protection at concerts to reduce the chances of developing permanent hearing loss.

Ear wax accumulation.Even though the production of earwax is a normal process of the body, protecting the ear canal, sometimes the wax becomes impacted or stuck in the ear canal. This blockage can hinder the ability of sound waves to travel through the ear canal to the ear drum. When the ear drum is unable to function properly, hearing can be negatively affected. The easiest way to restore normal hearing when ear wax impaction is present is to visit a health care provider, who can easily flush or remove the earwax. For most people the procedure is quick and fairly painless.

Middle ear infections.When the area behind the ear drum is invaded by bacteria, an infection is very likely to develop. Because the middle ear contains a passageway to the back of the throat, ear infections often develop while one is suffering from a cold. When the accumulation of phlegm gets into the passageway between the ear and the throat—this passageway is known as the Eustachian tube—and infection can develop that affects the ability to hear.

A middle ear infection can cause a build-up of fluids, which can put pressure on the hearing-related structures of the inner ear. On occasion, these fluids can build up enough pressure to rupture the ear drum. A ruptured ear drum will often leak blood and pus-like fluids from the ear. A ruptured ear drum is also very painful. Treatment for ear infections typically involves a course of antibiotics. A ruptured ear drum may heal itself, but sometimes minor surgery is required.

If you think you may have temporary hearing loss, the best way to know for sure is to visit an audiologist or otolaryngologist (eye, ear, nose and throat specialist). Often, a simple hearing test can assess hearing and help diagnose the cause.

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Audio Acoustics, a full-ser­vice hearing center owned by Orland Purcell, Au. D., has been in business since 1975. Ginger Peugh, Au. D., is his associate. They offer industrial hearing conservation, diagnostic audiology and a wide variety of hearing aids. They are located at 2101 North Midland Drive, Suite Four. The phone number is 689-4327.